Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-01-20

smile: May take these papers Tor an nour
to my uncle?"
Even an older and better man than the dis
trct attorney could not have resisted those
dropping lids and that gentle voice.
Certainly"
AZ will return them in an hour"
She was as good as her word, and within
the hour dropped the papers and little cour-
tesy to her uncle's legal advocate, and that
night took the steamer to San Francisco.
The next morning Victor Garcia, little the
worse for the previous nights dissipation.
reeled into Woods office. II have fears for
my niece Carmen. She is with the enemy,"
he said thickly "Look you at this"
1t was an anonymous letter Gn Mrs Plodg-
tits own awkward fist, advising him OF the
fact that his niece was bought by the enemy,
and cautioning him against her.
impossible" said the lawyer; "it was only
last week she sent thee $50"
Victor blushed, even through his ensan-
guined cheeks, and made an impatient gesture
with his hand.
Besides" added the lawyer coolly, "she has
been here to examine the papers at thy re-
quest, and returned them of yesterday"
Victor gasped-"And dyou-you-you-gavs
them to herF'
"Of coursel"
"All, Even the application and the sigma
tureY'
"Certainly-you sent her."
GSent her? The devils own daughteri"
shrieked Garcia. "No! a hundred million
times, mol Quick, before it is too late. Give
me the papers"
Mr.. Wood reproduced the file. Garcia ran
over it with trembling fingers until at last he
clutched the fateful document. Not content
with opening it and glancing at its text and
signature, he took it to the window.
at is the same" he muttered with sigh Of
relief.
"Of course it is" said Mr. Wood sharply.
1.-THE papers are all there. You're a foo.
Victor Garcia!"
And so he was. And, for the matter Of
that, so was Mr.. Saponaceous Wood, Of coun-
sel
Meanwhile Miss De Haro returned to San
Francisco and resumed her work. A day or
two later she was joined by her landlady.
Mrs P. has too large nature to permit an
anonymous letter, written by her own hand,
TO stand between her and her derneanor to her
little lodger So she coddled her and fattered
her and depicted in slightly exaggerated
colors the grief of Don Royal at her sudden
departure. All of which Miss Carmen re-
ceived in a demure, kitten-like way, but still
kept quietly at her work. In due time Don
Royals order was completed; stin she bad
leisure and inclination enough to add certain
touches to her CHASTITY sketch of the crumb-
ling furnace.
Nevertheless, as Don Royal did not return,
through excess of business, Mrs. Plodgitt
turned an honest penny by letting his room,
temporarily, to two quiet Mexicans, who, but
for beastly habit of cigarrito smoking which
tainted the whole house, were fair enough
dodgers. If they failed in making the ac-
quaintance of their fair countrywoman, Miss
De Haro it was through that lady's pre-occu-
patton in her own work, and not through
their ostentatious endeavors.
"Miss De Haro is peculiar" explained the
polite Mrs. Plodgitt to her guests; "she makes
no acquaintance, which I consider bad for
her business. If it had not been for me, she
would not have known Royal Thatcher, the
great quicksilver miner-and had his order
for picture of his mine!"
The two foreign gentlemen exchanged
glances. One said, "Ah, God! this is bad"
and the other, 1T is not possible;" and then,
when the landlady's back was turned, intro
duced themselves with a skeleton key into the
then vacant bed room and studio of their fair
countrywoman, who was absent sketching.
"Thou observest, said Mr.. Pedro refugee, to
Miguel, ex-ecclesiastic, "that this Americana
is all powerful, and that this Victor, drunkard
as he is, is right in his suspicious"
"Of verify, yes" replied Miguel, "thou
dost remember it was Jovita Castro who, for
her Americana lover, betrayed the Sobriente
claim. 1t is only with us, my Pedro, that the
Mexican spirit, the real God and liberty, yet
ives!"
They shook hands nobly and with senti-
mental fervor, and then went to work, l. e.,
the rummaging over the trunks, drawers and
porto-manteaus of the poor little painter,
Carmen De Haro, and even ripped up the
mattress of her virginia. cot. But they found
not what they sought.
"What is that yonder on the easel, covered
with cloth!' said Miguel; "it is trick Of
these artists to put their valuables together"
Pedro strobe to the easel and tore away the
muslin curtain that yelled it; then uttered
shrek that appalled, his comrade and brought
him to his side.
"1n the name of God" said Miguel, hastily,
"are you trying to alarm the house~
The ex-vaquero was trembling like child.
"Look!" he said hoarsely, 'look; do you sect
1t is the hand of God." and tainted on the
floor.
Miguel looked. 1t was Garments partly fin.
ished sketch Of the deserted furnace. The fig
ure of Concho thrown out strongly by the
camp fire, occupied the left foreground. But
to balance her picture she had evidently been
obliged to introduce another-the face and
figure of Pedro, on all fours, creeping toward
the sleeping man.
TO BE CONTINUED.